Why do Asians really get straight A's? - Project Gutenberg Consortia ...
Why do Asians really get straight A's? - Project Gutenberg Consortia ...
Why do Asians really get straight A's? - Project Gutenberg Consortia ...
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13<br />
There's no place like home— actually, there is, or rather, there are: Beverly Hills, San Jose, La<br />
Jolla, just to name a few, but it's still good to be back in Irvine. My parents planned for us to<br />
stay at Uncle and Oldest Auntie's until the weekend, but they had to rush back to work,<br />
Jordan had to rush back to study— the nerd that she is— and I had to rush back— against my<br />
own accord— to prepare for “ every pre-med student's worst nightmare ” , the MCAT. The<br />
MCAT, Medical College Admission Test, is a standardized examination, also known as the<br />
“ test of death ” for those who put their entire life's meaning into it; if you're a pre-med student,<br />
it will make or break you. And if it breaks you, then you're...broken? Alright, maybe it's not the<br />
end of the world, but if you have Asian parents, it's pretty much the end, unless you settle for<br />
being a lawyer. Now I have nothing against lawyers, but all Asian parents know that it's<br />
second to being a <strong>do</strong>ctor. Anyway, preparing for the MCAT isn't as easy as just cramming the<br />
day before. In fact, you'll have to prepare as early as freshman year, by maintaining an<br />
exceedingly high GPA. If I have any hope of <strong>get</strong>ting into a good medical school, I'll pretty<br />
much have to <strong>get</strong> above a 3.8, which— <strong>do</strong>n't tell my parents— I <strong>do</strong>n't have, with only a 3.7. The<br />
MCAT itself is a grueling day-long examination that covers physics, chemistry, biology, as well<br />
as reading and writing comprehension. I <strong>really</strong> have to <strong>do</strong> well on my MCAT to even have a<br />
chance of <strong>get</strong>ting into medical school. And if I <strong>do</strong>n't <strong>do</strong> well...I <strong>do</strong>n't even want to think about it.<br />
Now that I'm back, I have to make a few calls. But whom should I call first? — my<br />
incorrigible best friend Gabriel or my soon-to-be hot girlfriend Emilie? As the judiciously wise<br />
Michael Scott, from the American TV series The Office, once said: "Bros before hoes." But<br />
then again, Gabriel can wait, since he <strong>do</strong>esn't exactly have the nicest @ss and sexiest pair of<br />
legs like Emilie.<br />
I'm so nervous that I drop my cordless phone on the kitchen floor, right as I'm dialing<br />
Emilie's number. What <strong>do</strong> I have to be so nervous about? I like her and she likes me— at least<br />
I hope she still <strong>do</strong>es. Gabriel's right— I <strong>really</strong> need help with my social life.<br />
I decide to go to the refrigerator to <strong>get</strong> a drink of distilled water, to soothe my parched